By IANS,
Jammu : The first cancer hospital is coming up by December in Jammu and Kashmir, where the disease is witnessing a sharp increase.
The cancer hospital, being constructed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMDSB), will come up at Karyal near Katra, about 40 km north of here, Govenor N.N. Vohra said Sunday.
Cancer cases are on the rise in the state, particularly in the Jammu region. Last year the Government Medical College in Jammu received more than 1,400 new cases, followed by more than 1,300 in 2007, 1,266 in 2006, 1,185 in 2005, 1,168 in 2004, 1,058 in 2003, 996 in 2002, 952 in 2000, 901 in 1999, 937 in 1998 and 803 in 1997.
The proposed cancer hospital is part of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME).
Vohra, who is the chairman of the shrine board, was speaking at the second governing council meeting of the SMVDIME.
The meeting approved the draft recruitment rules and the bylaws as well as various other agenda items after detailed discussions. These included an identification of the super-specialties to be established in the first phase and a calendar to purchase equipments.